Trimedyne won approval for its laser catheter

The Santa Ana maker of medical laser devices said it received Food and Drug Administration approval to begin treating people with its Laserprobe cardiovascular laser catheter. The Laserprobe is a nonsurgical device for removing fatty deposits and other blockages in blood vessels. The FDA approval, subject to the submission of “a small amount of statistical data,” is for the removal of plaque in leg arteries. Trimedyne is also developing Laserprobe catheters for use in the heart. A company spokesman said that Trimedyne’s Laserprobe has successfully treated about 15 people in Europe during the last several months.